Part 2/5:
The story begins with the speaker addressing Lily, presumably a family member or close friend, about an amusing trick they have employed with Rooster, their pet. Over the years, they have developed a specific response to Rooster's persistent begging during mealtime. Instead of straightforwardly discouraging the behavior, the speaker has used an inventive approach: they tell Rooster that their food contains onions and that she cannot have any.
This strategy serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it deters Rooster from approaching the dinner table by associating her begging with an ingredient she supposedly dislikes or is told she cannot have. On the other, it subtly conditions her to walk away whenever the "onions in the food" excuse is presented.